Category: January2018

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Oh How I Love Your Word

We had a wonderful evening yesterday talking with friends about the Lord and His word. Sharing what God has done in our lives is a tremendous way to encourage and strengthen our walk with the Lord. It reminds us of what the Lord has done in the past and encourages those around us to trust and believe God in their present circumstances.

Then this morning here they are, some of my favorite verses in Psalm 119. I am so excited with today’s verses. These verses have been a part of my regular Bible reading for about the past 30 plus years. Well enough – let’s just read…read them out loud!

“Oh, how I love your teachings! I talk about them all the time. 98 Your commands are always with me, and they make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I am wiser than all my teachers, because I study your rules. 100 I understand more than those who are older, because I obey your instructions. 101 I have avoided every path that leads to evil so that I could obey your word. 102 You are my teacher, so I will always do whatever you decide. 103 Your words are so sweet to me, like the taste of honey! 104 I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way.” Psalm 119:97-104

Years ago the Lord put a desire in my heart to share His word. It is my greatest delight. I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was a little girl; I was raised in a Christian home but my relationship with the Lord really didn’t begin to develop until after I graduated high school. In college, I had a true experience that let me know if there was no one else in the world in my corner, Jesus was there. And that was enough! But for the next 10 years I still didn’t grow that much – I was just confident in knowing that God the Father was always there and that Jesus loved me no matter what but I struggled a lot with stress, worry, fear, etc.

Then I started hearing some preachers talk about victorious living as a Christian – really? Victory?? Absolutely! Once I began to study, really study God’s word, I found that His purpose for my life was victory. If I am victorious, being no one special, then my victories can be a testimony to others that God will do the same for them. Dave and I became frustrated with our nominal Christian lives and began to seek God, seeking Him in every area of our lives. We became “whole” Christians – Christians who dare to believe the whole word and applying it to our whole life.

And then, after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the verses in the Bible began to jump off the page and into my heart, not just my head, but my heart. Since it’s the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of the Bible, who knows better what it means. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come and teach us all things…Teach me Holy Spirit, teach me! I realized I had been spiritually retarded for so long and now I was hungry and growing. It was then I found today’s verses – and they described what was going on in my heart.

Have I been victorious in everything? No. Do I always feel like studying God’s word? No. Do I always come back to it? Yes!!! Where else can I go to find the words of life – no where. Only here in the pages of God’s word!

Jesus was teaching in John 6. He had just fed the 5000 and word was spreading that following Jesus was a good thing. The crowds increased, not because of the teaching but because of the miracles. Jesus told those following Him that He was the bread of life and they must eat of him. They thought he was talking about cannibalism and so they left because this was really offensive. Jesus asked his disciples if they were going to leave too. I love Peter’s answer.

“After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left and stopped following him.67 Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave too?”68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God.” John 6:66-69

It’s really the same as what David is saying in today’s verses. “103 Your words are so sweet to me, like the taste of honey! 104 I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way.”

I know where God has brought me from and what He has done in my life and I know that He doesn’t play favorites; so if God opens His word to me, He’ll open it to all. It is my heart’s desire to share God’s word in a simple, easy to understand way so that Christians will grow in their walk and won’t have to live for years in a retarded spiritual state.

Yes, David put the words of my heart down perfectly…“Oh, how I love your teachings! I talk about them all the time.”

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Everything Has Limits Except God

Some people think that to follow God’s Word and to be obedient to the instructions we receive in the Bible is stifling, constricting and even archaic. But I’m not one of those people! To me the Word of God is vital, living, powerful and life changing in a positive and strengthening way. I can live by God’s word and not be disappointed; His Word never fails, it’s beneficial to my well being. My Father never lies.

As I sit here this morning, I’m waiting for the sun to rise. It’s still dark outside all is quiet but in just a bit the day with dawn, the birds will be out welcoming the day, and nature’s activity will be in full swing. I’m excited to see what the day will hold. We received one of those nice desert rains last night and this morning the earth is soaking in that life giving moisture.

“Lord, your word continues forever in heaven. 90 You are loyal forever and ever. You made the earth, and it still stands. 91 All things continue today because of your laws. Like slaves, they all obey you. 92 If I had not found joy in your teachings, my suffering would have destroyed me. 93 I will never forget your commands, because through them you gave me new life. 94 I am yours, so save me! I have done my best to know your instructions. 95 The wicked tried to destroy me, but your rules made me wise. 96 Everything has its limits, except your commands.” Psalm 119:89-96

When you went to bed last night did you stop to wonder if the sun would rise or the earth would be spinning off in space because gravity lost its pull or would the grass still be growing this morning? None of these were a concern right? The very path of nature is predictable, a constant; it operates as God created it to from the beginning. If we want to see how faithful our God will be to us all we have to do is look at creation. The sun has no choice but to obey the command to rise and set; the tides have to ebb and flow; the seasons have no choice but to process through their cycles; they are as the Psalmist says “slaves”.

Jesus constantly used creation in his parables as He taught his followers the principles of God’s kingdom. In Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching about God’s faithfulness to provide and He used the sparrow and the lily. The sparrow doesn’t get up in the morning fretting if there will be enough worms or bugs to eat – no, they wake up singing! Praising God for His faithfulness and another day of fullness, “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory…”

The lily stretches her face heavenward and enjoys the morning sun. She drinks in the rain and is refreshed as she grows. Her roots go downward and she receives nourishment from the soil. She is beautifully adorned and all her growth and beauty seem to come effortlessly. God has provided all she has need of for the day.

With last night’s rain the desert will begin to bloom. It’s amazing! The ocotillo stems have dried over the past few months with no rain. The bright orange blooms have faded and fallen to the ground but now with this new moisture it will only be a couple of days and we will see green leaves and festive blooms. It’s their own circle of life. (Sound like a Disney song) No, it’s God’s song, nature’s song and it should be our song.

I’m sure that in all of creation there are a few birds that would be considered unworthy; a few flowers that just don’t measure up to the standard; a few fruit trees that aren’t as good as they should be, they haven’t spent enough time in prayer or attending service or paying tithe or even saying the right thing; but God’s plan comes to pass in all their lives because it’s His plan and it endures to a thousand generations. Now, of course, this is tongue in cheek but I think you get the point. None of us are perfect but God’s plan and purposes are!

Jesus said to consider the lily and the sparrow – are we not of greater value than they? They don’t toil or spin – they are simply obedient to God’s plan. So if we seek first the kingdom of God; God’s plan – God’s purpose – God’s natural flow and His righteousness (His right way of doing things), then all that we have need of will be provided. Why? Because we are such a great example of perfect living before God? No. Because we are so valuable and faithful? No. Because we are so wise and such a step above all the rest? No! Why then? Because it’s God’s nature! It’s His plan and just the same as God’s plan works for every bird, every flower, every seed; He has designed His plan to be the same for each of us – we simply need to trust Him.

Did you notice David’s final thought? Everything has limits EXCEPT God’s word.

Today I encourage you to live as David, in confidence, that God’s word and His faithfulness endure forever!

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Waiting During Construction

If you read my posts on a daily basis, you’ll remember that a few weeks ago I asked the question “what do you do when God seems silent”? David is dealing with that very thing this morning in the verses of this segment.

“I feel weaker and weaker as I wait for you to save me. But I put my trust in your word. 82 I keep looking for what you promised, but my eyes are feeling tired. When will you comfort me? 83 Even when I am like a dried wineskin on the trash pile, I will not forget your laws. 84 How long must I wait for you to punish those who persecute me? 85 Proud people have tried to trap me and make me disobey your teachings. 86 All your commands can be trusted. Those people are wrong to persecute me. Help me! 87 They have almost destroyed me, but I have not stopped obeying your instructions. 88 Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.” Psalm 119:81-88

Personally we waited on the Lord to change a situation for almost 7 years. I know what it’s like to tell the Lord – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” but we WILL continue to trust you! There were days when I felt things would never change and that’s when I would have to remind myself that God is faithful and He will keep His word and bring it to pass.

I can get a real sense of David’s heart in these first verses – he’s tired, he feels like he is drying up inside but he will continue to trust. You may have been waiting now for a very long time, waiting to see a promise that you have from the Lord come to pass. I want to share with you some of the verses God put in my heart to encourage me.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Wait – something we don’t do well for the most part but this verse isn’t talking about a passive action of sitting back; it’s active, like a waiter or waitress, this wait means to pay attention too, to actively participate in meeting the requests of others. So we are told to “wait on the Lord”. During this time, I try to keep my focus on the Master and His desires, not mine. There’s a promise attached with waiting, my strength will be renewed. I will be able to soar above the storm clouds, I will be able to run with race with endurance. Yes, I will learn to wait!

Another verse that ties into this one is Isaiah 26:3 “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in Thee.”

Staying focused on God and His word will keep me in a place of peace. When I find that I am anxious or upset, weary or weak; I realized that my focus has changed from being on the Lord to looking at the circumstances. In times like that I must return to focusing on God and His word. Because His word says…

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 5:14-15

God’s word is His will so if we are asking for things that He has promised in His word we know that we are asking according to His will and can have confidence that He not only hears our prayers but answers them. We are then able to go from a place of continually asking to asking confidently and then begin to thank Him for the result we know we will see. It’s hard to be discouraged when you are saying thank you.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ…” II Corinthians 1:20-21

God is the one that confirms His word by promising to watch over it and perform it; our job is to trust Him. This is something that I have considerable experience with. These are just a few of the verses that the Holy Spirit has confirmed to my heart when it comes to waiting for answered prayer to come. If our focus is distracted we will become like a dried up wine skin, good for nothing but when our hope and trust is in God we will continue to live fruitful lives during the wait.

Verse 88 is the kicker in this segment. Show me your faithful love, in the King James version that word is “lovingkindness” and it carries the meaning of a blood covenant or what we know to be “blood brothers”. When a blood covenant was struck between two people or two nations, it meant you have available to you all the resources that I have and vice versa. I give God all that I have (which compared to Him is seriously lacking) and He gives to me all that He has; His strength, His power, His promises, His provision, His life eternal! That’s what David was talking about – he had entered into covenant with God. This is why he could say I will do whatever You say because he had willingly entered into a relationship with One so much greater than he was. He was willing to do whatever the Lord had to say because David knew it would be the right way to go.

Look at waiting like you do building a house or doing a remodel. We said at the beginning of this study in Psalm 119 that God’s Word is our firm foundation that makes our life unshakeable in the storm. Prepare while you’re waiting for the construction to be complete. Live expectantly – pick out the flooring and the paint for the walls. God is building your life and you can trust Him to make it wonderful!

Again today, I reaffirm “Show me your faithful love and let me live. I will do whatever you say.”

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Learning and Understanding

We’re just about half way through this Psalm. Are you beginning to get the point – there is nothing more important than God’s word? David, with all his riches, power, prestige and prominence, only wanted one thing, to know God and His word.

“73 With your hands you made me and helped me become what I am. Now help me learn and understand your commands. 74 Your followers will see me and be happy, because I trust in your word. 75 Lord, I know that your decisions are fair, and you were right to punish me. 76 Now comfort me with your faithful love, as you promised. 77 Comfort me and let me live. I enjoy your teachings. 78 Bring shame on those proud people who lied about me. All I want to do is study your instructions. 79 Let your followers come back to me so that they may learn your rules. 80 Let me obey your laws perfectly so that I will not be ashamed.” Psalm 119: 73-80

David recognized that it was God who had formed him during his development before birth and just as vital as God’s design was in making his body, David also knew it was vitally important to have learn and understand God’s word.

Stop here…think about this! Pick one detail on your body and examine the detail and intricacies of it. I’m looking down at my wrist as I input this message. The angles that it can achieve are amazing; the swivel; the way it works with the hand and the arm to aid in all that the fingers do. WOW! And the God who designed each cell, each bone, each muscle is the same one who is wanting and waiting eagerly to teach me His word.

Verse 73 points out the two-fold process of wisdom, learning and understanding. David doesn’t just want to learn God’s word but he also wants to understand it. Take for instance a very simple Psalm, Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters.” Let’s stop there. This is a Psalm we have probably heard hundreds of times – something that is quoted in movies, used in song, printed on t-shirts, memorized in Sunday School, etc. That’s the learning part but what about the understanding?

David was a shepherd; he knew what it was to care for his sheep. He knew how to keep them healthy and protected. By stating the Lord is my shepherd, David understood that meant the Lord was always watching out for him, concerned for his welfare, protecting him from predators’ attacks. He knew what it meant when sheep lay down; it meant they were full and didn’t need to continue grazing, it meant they felt at peace and had no sense of danger, it meant they had found rest. What about the still water? David knew that sheep don’t drink from fast running streams, he understood that and he knew that the Lord knew that about him as well. He knew that the Lord had made provision for him and the way he was made.

Now see, that goes beyond just learning…understanding comes from searching deeper and an intimate knowing. My son’s a firefighter and he understands fire – he knows what the different colors of smoke mean, he knows how ventilation affects the direction of the fire, he knows the best way to extinguish the flames and he knows how to stay safe while working in danger. He hasn’t just learned about fire, he understands it.

When we read over verses we need to be seeking understanding. That’s when the Word truly changes us. Ooops, all that and I’m just on one verse. In verses 74 & 79, David talks about the importance of fellowship with others who love God’s word. We are connected with other Christians in the body of Christ just the same as my wrist connects my hand with my arm. We need to reach out and encourage and help them grow when we can.

In verses 75-78 the correction that he experienced is fresh on his mind. You notice he says it’s fair and loving. Much the way we administer correction, discipline or punishment to our children when they disobey, God lovingly corrects us and brings us back to a place of obedience. Hebrews 12:10 says “Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us so that we can be holy like him. 11 We don’t enjoy discipline when we get it. It is painful. But later, after we have learned our lesson from it, we will enjoy the peace that comes from doing what is right.”

Discipline is painful – it means that we have to acknowledge that we have been wrong and need to change our course of action. It means we have to admit that we don’t have all the answers. It means that we have to admit our need for someone greater and wiser. Jesus is our example of how the Father loving corrects. Each time he encountered the pride and arrogance of the Pharisees, he would correct them. They would try to trap him in conversation and debate and would try to put him in a corner publicly but each time he would use the word of God to correct and discipline them and it would convict them to the heart.

Jesus didn’t strike them with leprosy to teach them a lesson. He didn’t destroy their livelihood or their families, he spoke the Word. Some of them repented and others did not but his chastisement was always loving and Word based.

Verse 80 comes back full circle – back to obedience, obeying the Word perfectly and being free from shame. Living God’s word may bring ridicule from the world but it causes us to live shame free before the Father.

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Your Defender

We are going to learn how to accept correction from the hand of the Lord and to let the Lord defend us from our enemies. So many times we want to jump right in and defend ourselves in circumstances where we aren’t being treated right. It’s only natural to speak up and defend what’s ours but that’s not always the wisdom God wants us to use. We need to use God’s wisdom when our reputation is being ruined by liars.

“I am your servant, Lord, and you have kept your promise to treat me with kindness. 66 Give me wisdom and good sense. I trust your commands. 67 Once you corrected me for not obeying you, but now I obey. 68 You are kindhearted, and you do good things, so teach me your laws. 69 My reputation is being ruined by conceited liars, but with all my heart I follow your teachings. 70 Those liars have no sense, but I find happiness in your Law. 71 When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study your laws. 72 I would rather obey you than to have a thousand pieces of silver and gold.” Psalm 119:65-72

David mentions twice in this segment that the Lord corrected him and that this correction was a good thing – it brought him back to obeying God’s word and that was more precious than silver or gold.

How does God correct us?

“16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God is profitable for correction and instruction. It’s amazing to me how some folks can get so off base and say that the way God corrects is to cause us to lose our job, create financial hardship, make us sick, destroy our marriage, send a tragedy all to teach us something. Rubbish! Now these things happen but they are not a result of God teaching us a lesson. We need to recognize that there is a real enemy, seeking to destroy us. And we also need to recognize that sometimes we bring things on ourselves by being selfish and foolish, but they aren’t a result of God “teaching” us.

There is so much more to be said on correction but time and space limitations move me on.

Now how do we deal with those that criticize, lie and seek to destroy our reputations? David said to keep following and obeying God’s commands.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about the wonderful things you have done. 2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you. God Most High, I praise your name. 3 My enemies turned to run from you, but they fell and were destroyed. 4 You listened to me from your throne like a good judge, and you decided that I was right.” Psalm 9:1-4ERV

David knew to follow God’s command was to let God be his defender.

“Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 My friends, don’t try to punish anyone who does wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one who punishes; I will pay people back.” Romans 12:18-19 ERV

Jesus lived this way – He could have retaliated against His accusers and those who persecuted him but He kept silent on His own behalf and just kept on doing what God had called Him to do – He healed the blind, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, healed the broken hearted and preached the love of God.

Paul was persecuted in nearly even town he entered and his comment was

“13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

He kept his focus – he didn’t get off course but just kept pressing forward in doing what God had called him to do.

Isaiah 54:17 also tells us that “Weapons made to attack you won’t be successful; words spoken against you won’t hurt at all. My servants, Jerusalem is yours!  I, the Lord, promise to bless you with victory.”

When we take time to answer our critics and defend ourselves we are being drawn away from what God has designed us to do. If we enter into the conflict of self-defense we are doing exactly what the enemy wants us to do. We need to learn from David, Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul and when adversary and accusation come – we keep our eyes on Jesus, standing on his Word and we will win the battle!

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I Want It All

Let’s jump right in to the verses for today.

“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:57-64

I find it hard to get passed the first verse. This phrase “thou art my portion” reminds me of a pie. I know, a pie. I heard my Dad say on numerous occasions “the only problem with a pie is that you cut it, just give me a fork and I’ll eat the whole thing”. That’s how I see this verse about God’s word – when asked “how big a portion do you want” the answer came back “the Lord is my portion, just give me the whole thing, I don’t need anything else but Him.”

Jesus said that He was the bread of life. If we eat of Him we will never hunger. “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

The manna that fell from heaven in the wilderness was a sign to the Israelites that God would be the one to sustain their life. Every man was to take the same amount of manna in the morning and the evening and there was always enough for everyone to eat their fill. That’s the way it is with God’s word; we all come to “eat” of His word and there’s enough for everyone, for each day, for every need.

The word mercy used in the next verse is translated “love” in other versions. I like the word mercy. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve! The Apostle Paul put it this way “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 It doesn’t matter if you are the best sinner to have ever lived, you have still sinned and need God’s mercy. Yes, mercy definitely is love in action but it conveys a deeper meaning.

David says that he thought on God’s ways and made “haste” and didn’t delay in keeping His commands. Again, this reminds me of when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He learned that she was pregnant and to cover his guilt he called her husband home from war hoping that he would sleep with his wife and then think the child she was carrying belonged to him, her husband. But her husband chose to stay faithful to the men in battle and wouldn’t allow himself the luxury of his wife’s presence. So David sent him back to battle with a letter that told the general to put Bathsheba’s husband on the frontlines where he would surely be killed and he was. Then David took her as his wife.

WOW! They could write a soap opera on that one. David was confronted by Nathan the prophet and when his sin was exposed, he repented immediately!

Yes, David knew a thing or two about God’s mercy and about repenting quickly.

Again, David refers back to his enemies and their attacks. But he knew the Lord would deliver him. Remember what he said in Psalm 23 – “if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. You prepare a table (a banquet) before me in the presence of my enemies”? He knew that God was his protector and provider – his source of strength against his enemies. No fear here.

If things do bother you and you can’t sleep do what David wrote about. Get up at midnight and praise the Lord. I guarantee that after praising God at midnight you will rest well.

Paul and Silas were in a prison cell and they lived out this verse. Praising God at midnight, after they had been beaten and imprisoned, caused an earthquake and their chains fell off – yes, there is power in praise! We can either worry half the night or praise; I like praise better.

“After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.” Acts 16:23-26 CEV

Next, we have a reminder about the company we keep. Every mother has probably made this comment “choose your friends wisely or you may wind up in trouble”. When we choose godly friends we have someone we can talk about God’s word with; someone to help us grow and encourage us.

And finally, we have another reminder of God’s mercy; it fills the earth. Before Jesus came to earth to live and die people lived under God’s mercy and now after Jesus came we live under God’s grace. Grace is receiving blessings from God what we don’t deserve! Now that’s something to praise Him for.

Have some of that banquet that He has prepared for you – make God your portion!

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What Do You Remember

A few weeks back my Mom came to stay for a several days. At 94 her memory isn’t as sharp as it once was but she still has a good memory for someone her age. It’s always fun for me to talk with her about things that we did as kids – places we lived, friends we grew up with and special times we had as a family.

Dad was a blue-collar worker so we never had lavish gifts or big vacations. What we had instead were times of fishing at the lake, picnic lunches from the tail gate of the station wagon and day trips to the National Parks. We fed salt water taffy to the chipmunks in Zion, caught trout on salmon eggs and had rain water pour through the rotted roof of a travel trailer. (big smile) Yes, wonderful memories.

I also have wonderful memories of when our children were growing up and we saw the Lord do numerous miracles in our day to day life. Miracles of healing and provision, miracles of safety and protection. Answered prayers and expressions of God’s faithfulness.

Oh, how I love God’s word! It is such a joy to read it and know that for thousands of years it has never failed or been proven false and God will continue to protect it and bring it to pass. It won’t fail me or my children or my grandchildren.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall never pass away” Matthew 24:35

We’re about 1/3 way through Psalm 119 and I hope you are enjoying our study and that the Lord is ministering to you personally as we cover each segment.

“Remember your promise to me, your servant. It gives me hope. 50 You comfort me in my suffering, because your promise gives me new life.
51 People full of pride are always making fun of me, but I have not stopped following your teachings. 52 I remember the laws you gave us long ago, Lord, and they bring me comfort. 53 I am overcome with anger when I see wicked people, who have stopped following your teachings. 54 Your laws are the songs I sing wherever I am living. 55 Lord, in the night I remembered your name, and I obeyed your teachings. 56 This happened because I carefully obey your instructions.” Psalm 119: 49-56

Remembering God’s promises should give us hope and create an excitement in our hearts just like it did for David. I once heard it said that God has never had anyone, other than Jesus, qualified working for Him yet so don’t get hung up on your shortcomings. Look at those who God has used. Abraham was too old; David was too young. Mary Magdalen was a prostitute; Peter denied the Lord and Paul, the Apostle, killed Christians. (Just to name a few.)

We can either get puffed up with pride or become discouraged if we compare ourselves to others but when we see that God gave His promises to common everyday people, just like us, we know that His word isn’t just for a select few or the very elite. One verse that is ringing in my memory this morning is my favorite verse in the Bible. If you’ve been reading my posts very long at all you will know that I am talking about Numbers 23:19.

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

God doesn’t lie – that gives me hope! He doesn’t lie about salvation, healing, peace, joy, comfort, protection, prosperity, wisdom, victory…He doesn’t lie! And what’s more, He tells us to remind Him of His word. Not because He’s old and senile and might forget but because He wants us to boldly trust our relationship with Him.

“Turn to the Lord! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near. 7 Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts. Return to the Lord our God. He will be merciful and forgive your sins. 8 The Lord says: “My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. 9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours. 10 “Rain and snow fall from the sky. But they don’t return without watering the earth that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
11 That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:6-11 CEV

Moses instructed the nation of Israel to teach their children the things that God had done; deliverance from Egypt, the miracles in the wilderness and the victory of entering the promised land. Then Peter says that it was important for him to remind the believers of all that God had done for them so that they, we, wouldn’t be deceive and fall away from God’s plan.

In Hebrews we are instructed to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace to find help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) That boldness can only come as we stand on God’s word and rely on Him to be faithful and loving. Each time I think of this verse I remember an incident that happened when our kids were small. We live out in the middle of nowhere, and I do mean nowhere; thirty miles from the closest small town and 70 miles from Phoenix. We were farming 900 acres of alfalfa – we had told the kids that on Friday we would go to the Dairy Queen. That was a big deal! We had promised!

So Friday when the kids got home from school they quickly reminded us that this was Friday and we had said we were going to Dairy Queen. Of course we went – tired but we went – we had promised! We didn’t scold the kids for reminding us – they weren’t being arrogant or demanding – they were being kids and we had promised so they expected that we would have kept our word.

If we as natural, earthly parents make promises and keep our word to our children should we think that God in all His power and glory would do any less? If He didn’t want us to believe that He was faithful, then He shouldn’t have included promises in His word but He did and He IS!

When I remember God’s word, His promises and how He has provided in the past it causes me to sing. Just this last week, while I was out on a walk, I had been battling discouragement in a particular matter. As I focused not on the problem but on God’s faithfulness, I began to recall times in the past when God had “come through” and shown Himself faithful. There were so many times – large and small. It didn’t take me very long before I was singing praise to God.

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” Jeremiah 32:17

Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing is too difficult for thee!!

Put God in remembrance of His word today!

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What Do You Reflect

This morning’s verses deal mostly with other’s reaction when we choose to stand on God’s word. Their response isn’t always favorable. Think back to a time when you weren’t really interested in spiritual things or in bringing honor to the Lord. Did you avoid or ridicule those you considered religious?

We should desire to reflect God’s purpose and teachings.

“41 Lord, show me your faithful love. Save me, as you promised. 42 Then I will have an answer for those who make fun of me for trusting what you say. 43 Let me always say what is true. I depend on your judgment to be fair. 44 I will follow your teachings forever and ever. 45 So I will live in freedom, because I do my best to know your instructions. 46 I will discuss your rules with kings, and no one will embarrass me. 47 What joy your commands give me! How I love them! 48 Not only do I love your commands, but I also honor them. I will study your laws.” Psalm 119:41-48

I want us to take a walk through the Bible and look at folks who took a stand for God and met with adverse reaction.

Noah – laughed at by his neighbors when He said God was going to send a flood but he and his family escaped.

Joseph – told his brothers the vision he had from God and they sold him into slavery. Then Joseph was set up to save his brothers from famine.

Moses – he tried to defend the Israelites from the Egyptians and they rejected him and God. But then he led them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.

David – said he could defeat the giant and his brothers accused him of being arrogant and a braggart. He saved Israel and went on to be king.

Daniel – stood for God and his time of prayer and was thrown into the lion’s den by his co-workers because of it. God saved him and his enemies were destroyed.

3 Hebrew children – would only worship God and not the king so they were thrown into the fiery furnace. God rescued them and the king promoted them.

Jesus – spoke God’s truth and was crucified. He rose from the dead and provided salvation for us all.

Peter – was thrown into prison and beaten for preaching Jesus. He went on to become known as a leader among Christians.

Paul – was beaten, stoned, and imprisoned for preaching Jesus. He wrote over ½ of the New Testament.

Early Christians – martyred in the Coliseum for preaching Jesus. They gave their lives gladly for the cause of Christ.

I have a couple of personal experiences to share. At my 20th High School reunion, I had a man come up to me and tell me that he had gone to a youth meeting I had invited him to and accepted Christ as his Savior. I never knew. I was teased and unpopular in high school because I stood boldly for my faith.

There was a man who traveled with us when we went to rodeos in AZ. We would hold Bible Study and Sunday services for the cowboys and those in attendance. This man was so excited about Jesus that he was always met with one of two reactions. Either people flocked to him to hear what he had to say or the turned around and ran the other direction. There was no indifference.

All of these verses today reflect David’s rejection from his peers because of his stand for God. Maybe you have been embarrassed to share your relationship with the Lord with others. Or maybe you have been bold enough to share it and faced the taunts and jeers of others.

I’m not telling you to try and beat someone over the head with your Bible or to shove Jesus down their throats but be open to live your life committed to bringing God glory. Folks will notice and they will either want to know more or they will make fun and ridicule. It’s our job to be a testimony, 24/7, and the job the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

I leave you with the words of Paul. “I am proud (not ashamed) of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and now to save those who are not Jews. 17 The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself. God’s way of making people right begins and ends with faith. As the Scriptures say, “The one who is right with God by faith will live forever.”Romans 1:16-17

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The Main Thing

What’s the one thing you desire most? I would like to say that my one thing is to honor and serve the Lord, but many times my days are so wrapped up in my own pursuits that the Lord is put somewhere further down the line. Just bein honest folks – if we aren’t honest with ourselves we can’t and won’t serve the Lord the way we know we should.

“Lord, teach me your laws, and I will always follow them. 34 Help me understand your teachings, and I will follow them. Obeying them will be my greatest desire. 35 Help me follow your commands, because that makes me happy. 36 Give me the desire to follow your rules, not the desire to get rich. 37 Don’t let me look at worthless things. Help me live your way. 38 Do what you promised me, your servant, so that people will respect you. 39Take away the shame I fear. Your laws are good. 40 See how much I want to obey your instructions! Be good to me, and let me live.” Psalm 119:33-40

David had a “one thing” mentality. The Bible says that David was a man after God’s heart. He wanted to serve God will all his natural ability but that wasn’t enough, he wanted more. He knew he needed God’s help if he was truly going to follow God’s word.

David didn’t just sit by each day and have harps playing in the background, eating grapes and contemplating the greatness and vastness of God. His life was full – he had a kingdom to run, he had wives and children, there were enemies to defeat and battles to be won. Yet his priority was God’s word – he wasn’t seeking wealth or power – but those things came to him. He was “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things were added to him.” David was living the very thing that Jesus taught but he was living it hundreds of years before Jesus delivered the message.

I’ve heard people say, “I don’t really study the Old Testament, there isn’t much in there for me.” Well, that’s all that David had! In fact, he had the first five books of the Bible and then the book of Job; the rest of it was being written as he lived it and after his death. He took God’s command to Joshua seriously – meditate in the book of the Law day and night and then you shall be prosperous and have good success.

David search the Scriptures daily and his advisors did as well. His writing of the Psalms let’s us see how vitality important he knew them to be.

“God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. 2 Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. 3 They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.” Psalm 1:1-3 CEV

Have you ever sat and looked at a single day in the life of Jesus? Talk about a full schedule. From the time He got up until late at night he was busy. His daily life was filled with walking, sailing, healing, teaching, facing his critics and then raising the dead. When he did take time to pray and be alone, people would seek him out and interrupt his prayer time. He had learned the Scriptures from his youth and was living them out each and every day.

Jesus said “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38

It’s not that we have to do nothing but study God’s word all day long. It’s that we live what we read. Reading one verse and living it all day will have more of an impact on our lives and the lives of others than reading chapters and walking away and not having it change us.

I like this next part in today’s verses. “Don’t let me look at worthless things. Help me live your way.” There was a time that David looked at worthless things and it got him into a lot of trouble. He was up on his roof top and looking down he saw Bathsheba – he committed adultery and murdered her husband all because he was looking at the wrong things. He knew firsthand how destructive it can be to take your eyes off the Lord. It begs the question “what worthless things am I looking at”?

Lord, my heart’s prayer is this – don’t let me look at worthless things but let me focus on You.

Like David, our goal should be to live in a way that people know we are depending on the Lord, trusting Him and making God’s way known to the people around us. He was God-minded and his “one desire” was to know God more.

Don’t just read the Word today – live it!

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White As Snow

Yesterday morning after I had written and posted my blog I took Glory on a morning walk. There’s a new house being built down the road and we stopped to good through it. It was interesting to see the bedrooms, the closets, the bathrooms – it was all framed in. We had walked by when they were clearing the lot and when the footing was being dug and even the day the concrete trucks came and poured the foundation. But I hadn’t seen it up close since they started the framing.

While I was there I noticed the concrete. As often happens in this area, there were some cracks in it. Those will be covered over soon and no one will realize they had ever been there. That made me think again about what I had written on “No Shame” just that morning. As I finished my walk, my mind was racing considering the other side of the coin.

When we follow the Lord he won’t lead us to do anything that we need to be ashamed of. However, we all know that there are things in life that we aren’t proud of and would prefer to keep covered. Things of our own making, things God had nothing to do with. It could be something as simple as being a High School dropout; an arrest record; a failed marriage; a bankruptcy; an affair; an abandon relationship; or whatever event or action you would know about yourself that no one else does.

The Lord knows how to deal with those areas of shame.

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Psalm 3:1-3 KJV

These words were written by King David when his son Absalom was trying to kill him and take his throne. David said that the Lord was his shield of protection and the lifter of his head.

When you’ve experienced shame in your life it’s hard to look others in the eye. Someone who has been shamed will walk around head down but the Lord comes in, forgives our failure and our intentional sin and lifts our head. He brings a change to our countenance and restoration to our lives.

“And I will forgive the wrongs they have done, and I will not remember their sins.” Hebrews 8:12ERV

“His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.” Psalm 103:11-13 ERV

“I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 ERV

Our failures, our shame, our sin should by all rights keep us separated from a perfect and just God. In our own efforts we can never be good enough to remove our own shame. God knew that and He had a plan, a wonderful plan.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 8:6-10 CEV

What a great way to start the new year – shame removed! Head help high, walking in peace with God!!

“But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” I John 1:9 ERV

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